Many NBA insiders believe New Orleans big man Anthony Davis, left, dropping his agent to sign with Klutch Sports is all about the possibility of joining LeBron James and the Lakers. (Photos by Getty Images)

Now, just 616 shopping days before he becomes a free agent … the Anthony Davis watch!

We’re definitely getting ahead of ourselves with Davis under contract in New Orleans until July 1, 2020, but so are people around the NBA.

With a huge free agent summer coming in 2019 – last summer’s was quiet in comparison with only a few major stars available – insiders think Davis will force a trade, making him the prize of a mega-star list that potentially includes Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler.

The leading contenders for A.D. are thought to be the arch-rival Lakers and Celtics, both loading up in case the day comes when the Pelicans say they’ll listen to offers.

The Celtics can offer the better package with bright prospects and a slew of first-round draft picks, almost certain to include Sacramento’s in 2019.

Nevertheless, the Lakers are considered the early favorite with Davis seeming to lean toward teaming up with LeBron James.

A.D. just fired his old agent, Thad Foucher, to go with Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, a James insider known as one of the “Four Horsemen” – they now prefer the corporate name of LRMR – with Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and LeBron, himself.

The buzz isn’t limited to the usual GMs, scouts, agents and press people. A rare suggestion that this is real came last week from former NBA commissioner David Stern, himself.

In a Sports Illustrated interview, Stern absolved himself for spiking the 2011 Chris Paul-Lakers trade, blaming Pelicans GM Dell Demps for going ahead without authorization with the NBA then running the team, between owners.

In words that Stern would never have uttered in office, he embraced the speculation, calling Demps “a lousy general manager,” who now “may lose Anthony Davis.”

As they say in New Orleans, Et tu, Ex-Commish?

For the record, nothing is happening now.

Davis is handling this professionally, saying the right things but stopping short of committing himself to his current team, unlike Leonard, who let the Spurs twist in the wind all last season before forcing them to trade him, or Butler, who’s trying to force his way out of Minnesota.

Asked about switching agents, Davis denied it meant he was Lakers-bound, or anywhere-bound.

“A.D.’s playing for the Pelicans this year. The rest will take care of itself.”

Nevertheless, Davis also set goals – that included “being the most dominant player in the league” – which will be hard to do in the rough, tough Western Conference with a team that has made the playoffs five times in 14 years.

“Winning definitely helps everything, helps with your legacy, helps be on the top of the list,” Davis said. “But going to the playoffs every three years doesn’t help my case.”

Davis supposedly changed agents for marketing reasons, but no one is buying that.

Paul George, who forced Indiana to trade him a year before his contract expired, is the most recent example of stars maneuvering early to preserve their status as “Lary Bird players,” remaining eligible for maximum dollars.

Insiders think that’s what Davis is doing, with the move to Klutch Sports all about the possibility of going to the Lakers.

“Why else did he do it?” an East GM asked.

“Things are going great for him. The team is going good. He got the Derrick Rose extension (a five-year $150 million deal that each team is allowed to offer one player on his rookie contract).

“It’s not because of race. Thad Foucher is an Afro-American. It’s not because of agency. Thad Foucher is from the Wasserman Group and has Russell Westbrook. So why did he do it?”

We’ll see when the time comes, whether that’s next summer – meaning this is on – or 2020.

The LeBron Era started with the Lakers falling on their faces in that 0-3 start amid the usual hysteria including screaming headlines over a garden variety scrum (which Rajon Rondo named “Spitgate.”)

Nevertheless, all of this is part of the LeBron Effect with his presence … or LeBron, himself … at the center of every intrigue.

The Lakers are now the beneficiaries of James’ deft maneuvering, making them once more what they had been but lost … the destination of choice for NBA superstars.

For the Lakers, Davis is, indeed, the most desirable player who could be available next summer.

A.D. is not only a big man who would fit with a perimeter player like James, but a modern one with shooting range (34 percent from 3-point range last season) to go along with dominating shot-blocking (No. 1 three of the last five seasons).

Davis is also 25, entering his prime as James, who’ll be 34 in December, leaves his … which could make A.D. a bridge to a Lakers future beyond their hopes for the time LeBron has left.

Durant is 30. Insiders think he has had it with being part of the Warriors’ ensemble and will leave next summer, presumably after winning his third title there.

Insiders earlier had KD and Irving teaming up in New York, which might be why Kyrie resisted committing to Boston for so long.

Irving finally announced he intends to re-sign with the Celtics, although NBA people don’t consider that a done deal quite yet.

So, if the Celtics want to know what’s at stake this season, there’s that.

Leonard is 27 and no one knows what goes on in his head. His departure from Toronto is so widely expected, the Raptors made a commercial about it (“Stop fretting about will he stay or will he go. Enjoy this for what it is,”) although the ad hardly amounts to a statement of confidence.

As great a talent as Leonard is, he’s not a hand-in-glove fit with James, as Davis is. Nor is the withdrawn Kawhi as much a magnet for other players and a bridge to the future.

Prevailing speculation has Kawhi lined up for the Clippers, who expect to have two max-contract slots saved for him and another premier free agent.